Royalty Visits Placencia Area

For most of today, Belize Coast Guard vessels were escorting a VIP from the Kingdom of Qatar in the Middle East. The sheikh arrived in his multimillion dollar luxury yacht, noted on the internet as being one of the largest in the world.

His name is Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Muhammad Al Thani, and he is the former Prime Minister and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar. Internet reports say that he’s one of the richest men in his country. His 436 foot mega yacht, Al Mirqab was built in 2008, and is valued between 200 and 300 million US dollars. It has a crew of 60 and can accommodate up to 60 guests.

The vessel arrived this morning, where it first anchored just outside the English Caye Channel, the entrance of Belizean waters. Up to date coordinates on the internet at newstime showed it at anchor near Rendezvous Caye off the coast of the southern Belize District. It came from Cozumel – and the Qatari dignitary is said to be cruising the region.

Quatar, is the world’s richest country on a per capita basis.

Air Belize Sky Diving

Air Belize Skydiving Center’s owners have been operating safe and successful skydiving centers for 20 years in the United States as Sky’s The Limit Skydiving Center. Now we are pleased to bring our skydiving expertise to the beautiful country of Belize.

Skydive today in Placencia, Belize and experience the thrill of a lifetime! You will skydive above the Caribbean Sea where you can witness the beauty of Belize and the Placencia Peninsula from the sky. After meeting us at the Placencia Airport you will check in and you will have a short waiver to fill out. Once completed, you will meet your tandem skydiving instructor who will then brief you on your equipment and your skydive experience.

The jump aircraft will take off from the Placencia Airport and will fly you to your destination over the Placencia Resort and Residencies. You and your instructor will exit the aircraft together and experience the thrill of free fall. Upon deployment of the parachute, you will get to fly above Belize for 5-7 minutes until you land with your instructor on the beach at the resort.

All participants must be a minimum of 18 years of age, 16 with parental consent, and weigh no more than 225lbs.

Cost of a Tandem Skydive is $305.00

All prices are in USD and are per person..

Norwegian Cruise Line Project

A) Does the Placencia Village Council support the project?

Well this editor’s guess is that, due to their position of being caught between a rock (the people) and a hard place (Government of Belize), they will have to compromise and somehow work with the project. Can’t really blame them.

“Politics at it’s finest". At this point, they really should try and get what they can for the people from the project. Especially the tour guides in this area. They deserve a portion of the pie for sure. The council should be more agressive in insisting on meetings with the heads of project in GOB and NCL.

If they move quickly, they can secure some control over those guest wanting to just visit the Village beach area via tender boats arriving at main dock from NCL ship. Maybe they can ask for atleast $1 BZ per head. Sounds like a small portion but more realistic from GOB point of view.“It all helps the Councils monthly financial obligations” in which many are not concerned about but must be secured regardless.

B) Will the local BTIA & Political Opposition Party

halt the project via court decision?

My guess is no! The project will move forward for sure. Too many powers that be supporting. I know many dont’ want to hear this but “Let’s be real guys”. After all, it is the start of 2015 and the ball won’t stop rolling at this point.

C) What should the Villagers do at this point?

Try to"work together” and position themselves in “new businesses” that cater to cruise tourism. This should happen “now” and not later.

The Placencia Group

is pleased to announce two major public relations developments:

Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the Government of Belize selected The Placencia Hotel & Residences to host SICA 2015, a multinational meeting of Central American Countries organized to discuss regional economic, social and political issues.

Soft Opening of Placencia International Airport (PIA). To facilitate SICA 2015, the Government of Belize has facilitated the opening of PIA for international aviation throughout the event. Marco Caruso and Brent Borland, co-owners of PIA, The Placencia Hotel and The Placencia Group of companies (TPG), are pleased to report the runway, as currently constructed, can safely handle the aviation requirements of the participating countries.

Starting December 19th, Prime Minister Dean Barrow will host a summit of the SICA Presidents, Prime Ministers and their associated senior staff at The Placencia Hotel & Residences to discuss regional peace, political freedom, democracy and economic development.

SICA (Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana), or the Central American Integration System has a revolving pro-tem presidency (enabling each member state to have equal time at the head of the table). SICA’s members are Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panamá. The Dominican Republic participates as an associated state. Mexico, Chile and Brazil are regional observers and Taiwan, Spain and Germany are extra regional observers of SICA. Belize's assumed the pro-tem Presidency of SICA on July 1, 2014.

To facilitate this meeting TPG developers Marco Caruso and Brent Borland are announcing a limited opening of the Placencia International Airport. Esteemed officials from the participating countries will each arrive via Beechjet 400, King Air 200, Citation X, Lear 60, Gulfstream 4, Global Express 5000 and other aircraft.

This soft opening of Placencia International Airport marks the first international flights at the soon-to-be-completed second international airport in the country of Belize. The importance of these developments cannot be underestimated -- most important of which is the government’s strong support of TPG’s Resort and the role PIA will play in the region's economic development.

Attached please find photos that were taken December 16 and 17 of 2014. Just this morning the President of Dominican Republic (Danilo Medina) landed in his Global Express 5000 (a beautiful $52mm asset). Joining him was the President of Honduras (Juan Orlando Hernandez) aboard an Embraer 135. The President of Guatemala (Otto Perez Molina) arrived via Beechjet 400 and the President of Costa Rica (Luis Guillermo Solis) is arriving this evening in a Lear 60. Other pictures show the first salute to the Placencia International Airport via flyby from a Piper Aztec. This was followed shortly by a Twin Otter carrying government officials arriving in advance of the Presidents and Prime Ministers.

As we have shared with you in the past Placencia International Airport is the fulcrum for our entire grouping of projects. Needless to say we are very proud of this explicit support from the corridors of power in Central America. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We look forward to discussing your involvement in the final stages of the tipping point currently underway.

Caye Chapel Sale Completed

The Government of Belize, through BELTRAIDE, is pleased to announce the completion of the sale of the island of Caye Chapel, on Monday 8 December, 2014. Caye Chapel, an island in the Belize District, consisting of 265 acres, was purchased by a leading Mexican luxury hotel development group.

The group, who are owners and operators of luxury tourism developments in Mexico City, Cancun, and Acapulco, are currently working on a detailed development plan for the island for presentation to Government. It is expected that this plan will include the announcement of a partnership with a renown global luxury hotel brand, to be announced in the near future, as well as the development of high-end residencies and other amenities.

It is anticipated by the buyers that the development of the island will commence early in 2015. The Government of Belize is pleased to welcome this new significant investment into Belize’s growing tourism, sector.

Caye Chapel is located next to Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. It is one of the most beautiful Islands in all of Belize and all of the Caribbean. We welcome our Mexican neighbors in further developing this wonderful Island in Belize.

“Congrats on your purchase”

D) Is there an upside to the project?

Regardless of what some may say, there is “always” an upside. For example, has anyone really taken the time out to think about the young children graduating from primary and high schools in this area? “What about their job future? Not all can afford college or will want to go. Yes, we must “always protect our environment" but we must also protect our children’s future!

They will also need to survive and feed their families to be. It is always so easy to “reject large developments", especially when you are financially secure and collecting monthly Social Security and or Pensions. Remember that you elected this Government to do a good job for your people firstly! Don’t forget that this should always be priority for any Government over all!

Hotel Apartments Condominiums Shops Stores Commercial Residential Building

Placencia Village Sidewalk U$795’000

E) Will there be project spinoffs for local businesses?

Yes, I feel so. There will be those on NCL ships that will prefer not to go on a tour and just visit the Village/beach area.

NCL guest usually purchase more then other lines. Gift shops, restaurants, bars, taxis should see an increase in business over present. There will also be those guest who really like the area and will return as overnight tourist in hotels.

F) What about the possible increase in crime?

Normally, these types of large scale businesses do bring with them an increase in crime. This of course will be the Government and local Government’s job to monitor well and increase the police numbers if necessary. Areas of drugs and robbery/burglery will have to be kept under strict watch and control. Due to the fact that we only have one road in and out, should help us greatly. Boats and especially strange boats will need to be watched closely. Regardless, it can all be kept in check!